Painting stairs

13 years ago

Hi,

We are going to paint our stairs white (the color of our trim) but I am concerned about durability. It was recommended that we paint polyurethane on them but will that make it so they don't scuff? We also have a dog which I'm sure wont help with the durability issue. Any tips?? Would staining a dark color and then painting the risers be a better option? Any tips would be appreciated :)

Thank you!

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PRO

TJP Designs and Construction LLC

13 years ago

White stairs sound like an ongoing maintenance issue, you may want to reconsider your options!

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Comments (29)

charleee
13 years ago
I wouldn't recommend white paint on the stairs. On the risers, yes, stairs, no. But if you decide to try it, I have found Minwax polyurethane to be the best as far as wear is concerned. You'd need at least four coats.
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PRO
TJP Designs and Construction LLC
13 years ago
Have you considered stripping the treads down to the bare wood? They may be oak treads under all that paint, and look real sharp (as mentioned above, just paint the risers).
charleee
13 years ago
Wallpapering the risers is another good look: [houzz=
NW HOMES · More Info
]
PRO
Creations Nadia Interior Design
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
staining a dark color and then painting the risers is a better solution :)))
Christopher Brack
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I painted the risers white and stained the steps on my stairs and installed a roger Oates stair runner on mine. So comfortable underfoot and reversible in a few years time. Could explore something more interesting with the hand rail.
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
Ok decision made! We will stain the top and paint the risers. BUT, our regular flooring at the top and bottom of stairs is a dark laminate called Saratoga hickory (see pic). Is it ok to have laminate on top and bottom and then stained wood and paint on stairs? Or is that hokey?
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
And yes that yucky handrail is already gone! Haha! We actually did a little reconfiguring and the stairs look like this now... You can barely see but we knocked down the wall and added the rail type things.
charleee
13 years ago
It should be fine, try to match the stain the best you can. This may involve mixing different stains to get the look you want.
Christopher Brack
13 years ago
No, think about a stair runner. It might be fine. We have hardwood walnut and stained builders finish on top all connected by a Devine roger Oates stair runner. Love it.
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
Ok so stain top, paint riser and put a runner? This is scaring me! Haha!
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
Christopher can you send a pic of that?
charleee
13 years ago
Stair runners: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-get-your-stair-runners-right-stsetivw-vs~693308
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/set-staircases-racing-with-a-striped-stair-runner-stsetivw-vs~4033112

And some creative ways with stairs: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/overlooked-design-opportunity-stair-risers-stsetivw-vs~677461
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
How about this type of runner up the stairs. Not brown chevron but maybe a khaki or light bluish green or maybe navy... I like modern simple.
charleee
13 years ago
There was an ideabook on geometric runners, I'll attach it. I think it would make me dizzy, personally :)) https://www.houzz.com/magazine/geometric-runners-shape-stairway-style-stsetivw-vs~4057420
PRO
Toni Sabatino
13 years ago
This is a fun idea I copied from another houzz discussion instead of standard painted risers. You could do something like this with stained treads as well.
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
This is awesome! Thank you!
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
Olldbobbi, thanks for the article. I love all those geometric stairway rugs!!!
charleee
13 years ago
You're welcome! I think it will be easier than staining and painting! And quieter, too.
Susan Flowers
13 years ago
A side issue, but will your dog be comfortable with bare finished stairs? ours would only go up by leaning against the wall...so I would add a runner....also, .you can often get laminate trim made for stair treads so you could continue laminate up stairs
daltoncottage
13 years ago
Paint bare wood stairs using a Benjamin Moore floor paint with polyurethane already in it. Has held up wonderfully for 3 years.
lala girl
13 years ago
We painted ours Ben Moore dark grey, no poly but did mix in a bit of fine sand like material that we got at the paint store so the stairs are not slick. We also wallpapered the risers for some interest (the stairs are right when you walk in the front door) - the paper is super durable and hides all scuffs.

DaltonCottage - love your black paint runner!
Tammy Cody
13 years ago
This reminds me of a post from AshleyAnnPhotography. I love what she did with her stairs. Photo credit to this post: http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2012/03/12/the-project-that-never-ended-ended/
Jordan
13 years ago
The white paint will have a lot of up keep so I would paint the stairs white then add a painted runner down the stairs in a darker color to hide dirt and upkeep in the area with the most traffic. I would also stencil a number on each stair in the white or in a fun pop color.
PRO
Maison Pompeii Antiques and Interiors
13 years ago
paint your stair risers white and stain the treads to match the floor. The spindles of the banister should be white and then stain the banister the color of the treads. I think is is pretty much the general consensus.
nononanna
13 years ago
I have no idea what your style is like but animal prints look great as a stair runner. Sort of glamarous, sort of neutral.
PRO
Anita Levine Interiors
13 years ago
Put a shoe molding on the side. I think the options are endless. But paint or take the railing off.
I've seen the application in previous post where the middle of the step is painted a color the rest white.
I like that the best.
nononanna
13 years ago
If you paint the risers, they get scuffed too. The first mark or two drives you crazy,and after a while you just live with it and don't see it. It's the way it goes.
Mia Mirelez
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! This is so helpful!

Painting stairs

TJP Designs and Construction LLC

Comments (29)

charleee

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charleee

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charleee

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Toni Sabatino

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Mia Mirelez
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